Capacitor pricing

I think it's a little unfair to say Parts Connexion "marks everything up" AFAIK comparing their  list prices has been pretty consistent with other US vendors.

If you ask Chris at PC nicely you can usually get 20% off at PC, which is their sale price.

Jupiter copper foil at SC is essentially 20% off so, in this case it’s kind of a wash. I haven't done an extensive comparison of every single brand, but as a result for things I get I go through PC, but of course, it always helps to compare prices. My free to build speaker kit uses Peerless woofers, which are usually $20/ea. cheaper at Madisound thatn Parts-Express for instance. Even if things cost the same, Madisound has better shipping rates (or so I think) than PE.

By the way, Clarity ESA and MR caps are on big close-out sales at both PartsConnection (PC) and Madisound right now. Sonic doesn't carry Clarity.

Madisound also carries Mundorf and Clarity but I’ve only seen them on sale when being discontinued.

@georgelofi

Solen = SCR = Axon. Axon is essentially the middle of the road Solen for half price. Focal and others do seem to source their caps from them.

However, I would only use an Axon as a bypass. The middle to low end Solen’s are, to my ears, easily outclassed by the low end Mundorf’s and Clarity caps.

I’ve heard good things about the latest high end Solen’s but I really don’t wish to play around with them. Your mileage and ears may vary.

Now other brands, who knows. Winding machines are expensive, so if you can get cheap caps with your brand on them and get someone to put out a few positive reviews for you then you may indeed make a few bucks.

Now, what's absoultely best is if you can find a capacitor brand that costs $1/cap or less and sounds best to you. I hope you find that for yourself. 

Best,

Erik

George, don't leave us hanging. What are the brands you think are the same?

One of the "tells" for me is the 7.5uF caps, which AFAIK only Solen/SCR makes.